"God bless me!- how silent you must have been!" said the facetious colonel." But that's wrong; you should always tell one another your love secrets; bottled affection is apt to turn sour.' "Now what can you know of the tender passion, colonel?" said Lady Lee; "and yet, my dears, you hear how he philosophizes about it, as if he were really acquainted with the sentiment." CHAPTER VI. The detachment of dragoons stationed in Doddington was assembled at a dismounted parade that morning, to listen to an oration from the commanding officer, Major Tindal. Other people were assembled there besides the troops. The yard of the principal hotel, where the parade was held, was thronged with admiring spectators. A week's familiarity with the cavalry had by no means bred contempt in the minds of the inhabitants of Doddington. Their hearts still thrilled to the Bagot reddened. He always suspected her sound of the stable-trumpet; at the march of ladyship of feeling for him a disdain which the squadron through the streets, on its way she did not care to conceal, and which, per- to exercise, customers were neglected and haps, really did exist, though the display of it business at a stand-still, until the last horsewas unintentional. It oozed out so uncon- tail had disappeared round the corner of the sciously to herself, that, in a less clever per- Butter-market; and soldiers, appearing singly son than her ladyship, he would probably in the town, became each the nucleus of a have failed to notice it; but believing that small reverential crowd, swelling in magnishe possessed satirical power, and feeling that tude like a snowball as it advanced. Their there was no great congeniality between spurs, their mustaches, the stripes of their them, he frequently detected a latent dispar- trousers, were objects with the sight of which agement in speeches which, coming from any the populace found it impossible to satiate one else, he would have taken either in a itself. playful or a literal sense. So, after a minute's Accordingly, the troops were now the centre silence, during which he was struggling with of a large circle, formed by apprentices who choler, which he felt it would be unprofitable had deserted their trades; master-workmen, to exhibit, he changed the subject. who, coming to look for them with fell intent, I'm sorry to find you 've left off riding had forgotten their wrath, and "those who lately, Hester," said he. "Diana is getting came to scold remained to see;" servant as fat as a Smithfield prize pig, and I wonder maids, who, running out on errands, with inyou 're not just the same. What exercise do junctions to be quick, had heard the trumpet, and been drawn as by magical power within you take ? "We walk," said Lady Lee," and drive." its influence; ostlers and waiters, utterly "Walk and drive!" quoth Bagot. "Wo-reckless of their duty towards their neighbor; men crawl like spavined snails along the ter- truant schoolboys in corduroys, with Latin race, and get into a carriage that goes as easy grammars, geographies, and books of arithas an arm-chair, and call that exercise. Rid-metic slung at their backs, and whose pockets ing is the only thing to keep ladies in health bulged with tops and green apples; young and condition. Besides, there are lots of places worth seeing around here too far to walk to, and inaccessible to a carriage; but how pleasant it would be to ride there!" "But Orelia and Rosa have never ridden in their lives," said Lady Lee. "Time they should begin," answered Bagot. "I've been trying the bay filly this morning, and I'm convinced she would carry Miss Payne (who, I'm sure, has capital nerve) to admiration. I'm going over to Doddington to-day to see Tindal, the major of the dragoons there, an old friend of mine, and I'll ask him to let his rough-rider come over and give your young friends a lesson. What d'ye say to that, young ladies?" milliners, all curls and titter and blush; and paupers receiving out-door relief, who, quitting the spots where they usually basked away their time, like lazaroni, came up, some with crutches, some without, and having a blind man in their company, to satisfy their military ardor. The major came slowly on parade, his hands crossed behind him, his spurs and scabbard clanking, his face stern. The crowd made a larger circle, and some little boys fled from his path- one or two, who stumbled in their haste, not pausing to rise again, but grovelling out of reach upon their hands and knees, expecting nothing else than to be immediately decapitated or run through the Both Rosa and Orelia were charmed at the body. The spectators were prepared for prospect, and began to think Colonel Lee a anything of a martial nature, and when he very pleasant person. So it was agreed they called the parade in a short sharp voice to should all drive over to Doddington, where" Attention," they half-expected to see him the ladies had some shopping to do, and that draw his sword, and go through the cuts and the colonel should then arrange with the guards a proceeding, which, far from apmajor about their riding lessons. pearing singular to them, would greatly have CCCCLXXIII. LIVING AGE. 44 VOL. I. enhanced their respect. However, the major didn't do anything of the sort. Standing in front of the line, with his left hand on his sword-hilt, he commenced his address, which may be considered a pretty fair specimen of military oratory. - "Men," said he (and as he spoke you might have heard a pin drop), "you that is, some of you have been acting disgracefully. You were sent here to preserve order, and you have been the first to set an example of disorder. You have abused my indulgence in allowing you to partake of the amusements of yesterday, and you have brought infernal discredit on the king's service in the eyes of the inhabitants. If I can discover who began the affray yesterday, in the fair, let them look out! I'll make an example of them! If I can't discover them, I'll punish the whole detachment I will, by G-d!" There was a momentary pause, and the major was about to recommence, when the corporal, of whom we have made mention, stept to the front. "I was the man, sir," said the corporal, with military brevity. "Stop!" cried Orelia, "this must n't be -I'll go myself. Of course, it must be explained and stopt," and she marched off. Rosa watched her as she walked across the yard, and noticed the look of surprise on the major's face, as his conversation with Bagot was interrupted by the approach of the stately young lady. He listened courteously to her for a minute, and then called out, "Corporal Onslow!" The corporal came up with the same unconcerned air as before, and saluted. "I'm glad," said the major, "to find that your good character, far from being forfeited, is rather heightened, by the circumstance that took place the lady you protected desires to thank you - you are released, of course." : "And, with my thanks, may I beg you to accept this?" said Orelia, holding out a hand in which gold was heard to chink. The corporal bowed low over the hand, but did not offer to touch it. "It was enough reward for him," he said, "to have been of the slightest service." "I'm sorry to hear it, Corporal Onslow. Orelia pressed it on him without effect. You are under an arrest- - fall in, sir. Of-"I must study how to reward you in some ficers," said the major, touching his cap, and other way," she said at length. the officers, touching theirs, fell out; -"Sergeant-major, dismiss the parade." The corporal saluted, and fell back. A whisper passed about among the populace they were about as well-informed as civilians generally are on points of military justice; and if the corporal had been forthwith blindfolded with a handkerchief, caused to go on his knees, and then and there shot, it would perhaps have excited more awe than surprise. During this scene, the party from the Heronry had been looking on from the balcony of the inn; and Bagot Lee, seeing the parade was over, chose this time to go up and greet his friend the major. It would be easy," the gallant corporal replied; "a single word-;" and then, as if remembering the major's presence, he drew himself up, saluted and walked off, leaving his reply unfinished. "A strange sort of fellow that," said the major as he departed; "we can make nothing of him. A capital soldier, and the best rider, by far, in the regiment - but queer, very queer. He has nothing to say to the rest of the men, when off duty never had a comrade - and the fellow's language and manners are really deuced good, and quite above his station.' "Rides well, does he?" said Bagot; "perRosa Young had recognized the corporal haps he would suit my book. I was going to immediately as Orelia's defender, and heard presume on our old acquaintance to prefer a the major's words with horror. Orelia, how-request, in behalf of this and another fair ever, was much too magnificent a personage young lady, for your men to give them a to recognize a man in the corporal's station little instruction in riding.' of life, however good-looking he might chance to be. Orelia, did you hear - did you hear?" cried Rosa; "you 're not going to allow them to punish him, are you, Orelia?" "What did he say?" asked Orelia, who had been surveying the scene with a superb air, as if all the soldiers were hers, and brought there to be reviewed by her, before marching away to die in her cause. "Why, they're going to punish him because he beat the man who wanted to dance with you yesterday, in the fair. Oh, if you don't stop them, I shall go myself," cried Rosa, preparing to rush down into the yard. "The very man," said the major; "and he'll be glad enough of the employment," he added, in a low tone, to Bagot; for, between you and me, I believe the fellow is some wild slip of good family, and he'll be delighted to get away from the barrack-yard, which does n't suit him at all.” "That sort of thing is more frequent than people fancy," returned Bagot. "I remem ber, when I was in the Guards, we enlisted a sprig of nobility once; but our honorable friend turned out a shocking vagabond, and we were under the painful necessity of flogging him. Your corporal is certainly rather a striking-looking fellow." "I saw him just after he was enlisted," The royal mail had driven up to the hotel, said the major. "He looked uncommonly and stopt to change horses, but the ostlers gentlemanlike, and wore deuced well-made had decamped to look at the military, and clothes, though, I fancy, there was n't much in the pockets of them. He shall attend the ladies whenever you think proper. And, upon my honor," added the gallant major, turning to Orelia, "I envy the fellow his employment. I wish I was a rough-rider myself, Lee" whereat Bagot chuckled. the guard was obliged to harness the abandoned team with his own august hands; while the stout coachman, instead of finding an obsequious stable-boy ready to catch the reins, and an admiring mob of idlers waiting on each oracular word that fell from his inspired mouth, stood actually alone, in his These few words of the major's served to top-boots and broad-brimmed hat, in the invest the corporal with a sudden romantic porch of the hotel, bursting with suppressed interest in the eyes of Orelia. The service he wrath. During the next stage he touched had done her the day before, little thought up a lazy wheeler with the double thong so of when supposed to have been rendered by effectually, that the astonished animal took an inferior, and capable of being rewarded the whole draught of the coach upon itself by money, appeared in a new and graceful for a league or two; but he never uttered light as the act of an unfortunate gentleman. a word for five-and-forty miles. At the end And the difficulty of expressing her gratitude, of that space, being nearly through the next in a manner suitable either to his apparent county, he turned his head half round, and or his supposed quality, made her rate the said to the guard favor above its value, and caused her thoughts frequently to recur to him. "Here's a pretty go, Jim!- what the blazes shall we come to next?" after which, he uttered a short derisive laugh; and the guard, who, from long travelling that road, was better acquainted with his character and trains of thought than most people, knew that he was referring to the desertion of the ostlers and loungers at Doddington, and expressing his contempt for their military enthusiasm, and pity for their vulgar taste. Meanwhile the dragoon officers looked on, envying Tindal, who, in this infernal stupid hole of a country quarter, had made the acquaintance of such a splendid-looking girl. They followed her with their eyes as she walked away, and watched her as she came out on the balcony and rejoined Rosa and Lady Lee there; and, while they stroked their mustaches, they uttered opinions on the party much warmer and more favorable than the customary nonchalance and poco-curantism of military criticism would have sanc-lesson, Bagot came into the drawing-room, tioned. "Right, old fellow," said Harry Bruce, Mr. Oates' particular associate; "she's a charming little thing but there, they're going-you may put away your eye-glass, Sloperton. By Jove! I feel as if the dropscene had fallen at the opera." CHAPTER VII. Before noon, on the day of the first riding and announced the arrival of the corporal. In expectation of him, Rosa and Orelia were already equipped for the saddle. "By Jove!" said Bagot, "either that riding-habit, Miss Payne, or the hat and plume, or both, are amazingly becoming to you. Stick to the costume, Miss Payne, stick to it by all means, whenever you are bent on conquest. The opinion was just. Orelia certainly looked magnificent as she descended the oak staircase, holding her whip and the folds of her gathered skirt in her left hand. The hat and plume suited well the style of her face, and made her look like a graceful, brilliant cavalier. The steeds were ready in front of the house, the bay filly fretting a little, and impatient of the bit. The corporal had dismounted, and was holding his troop-horse by the bridle. As the ladies appeared, he took off his foragecap and bowed with a great deal of grace. Now, then, Miss Payne," said Bagot, going up to the filly and patting her, "don't 66 Though the parade had broken up, the crowd still lingered. Some sanguine spirits, perhaps, were yet of opinion that justice was about to be done on the offending corporal. Some were unable to tear themselves away | be frightened." from the contemplation of the officers, as they remained chatting in a group. Nobody thought of leaving, so long as a vestige of gold lace or a single spur was to be seen. Frightened! - frightened, indeed! as if she ever could be frightened! Such was the meaning conveyed in the scornful look that Bagot got in reply to his speech of intended encouragement. She placed her foot in Ba- | ly; and the corporal employed that critical got's right palm, as if she had been treading moment to slip his left foot in the stirrup, and on the neck of her man Friday. The filly snorted, backed, trod on Noble's toe, but Orelia, with a spring and a lift, was in the saddle; and the filly, her nose compressed by Noble's hand, stood fast while the stirrup was being adjusted - an operation that afforded desultory glimpses to the lower world of a perfectly enchanting leg, and gave Bagot such satisfaction that he needlessly prolonged it (not the leg, nor the stirrup, but the operation). Rosa had mounted Lady Lee's favorite, Diana, without difficulty, though the little lady was somewhat nervous. Then the corporal was about to vault on his trooper, when Bagot called out to stay him. "We'll find you a better horse than that, corporal," said he; then whispering Orelia - 't is just as well, before intrusting him with so valuable a charge, to find out if he's qualified to take care of it. Fetch out the Doctor, boy. Did you put the curb on him?" said he to Noble. 1 All right, sir," said Noble; "you could n't push a straw under it, 't is so tight. He'll be a good un, sir, if he sits him," said Noble, grinning somewhat maliciously at the thought of seeing his rival unhorsed. The Doctor, a somewhat cross-made but powerful chestnut, made his appearance from the stables at a smart trot, lifting the boy, who ran beside him hanging at the reins, nearly off his legs, and switching his tail and snorting. "Now then, corporal!" said the colonel. The corporal glanced at the curb, which he saw the horse would n't endure, and put his finger on it. 66 Bagot, with an im Up with you!" cried patient jerk of the head. Without a word, the corporal was in the saddle-not through the medium of the stirrup, but by a light vault that placed him at once in his seat; the stirrups had purposely been left too short. 66 to throw back his right leg over the saddle, "Off with the In his excitement at the scene, Noble had quitted the bay filly; and the filly, in emulation of the Doctor's proceedings, became unruly. Bagot jumped to catch her head; but she bounded out of his reach, and, feeling no check from the loose reins, made off at half speed down the lawn. Orelia did not scream in this, to her, novel predicament, nor lose her own head, though she had lost the filly's. She sat far steadier than could have been expected, and even succeeded in catching her reins. But the filly was away; and in front was a ha-ha- a broad ditch faced with brick, dividing the shrubbery from the lawn - and for this she made. "Curse the brute!" cried Bagot, making two frantic steps after the runaway; and then stopping short in despair, "She'll fall - she 'll fall, as sure as fate!". a prophecy that was dismally echoed by a shriek from Rosa. But a potent auxiliary was at hand. The corporal, gathering up his reins, had struck his long-rowelled dragoon spurs into the Doctor, and gone off at speed. Orelia was close by the ditch when he reached her; he had hoped to catch her rein, and turn her steed Quit his head, boy!" said Bagot. from the dangerous obstacle-but it was too The boy let go, and swiftly retreated sev- late. The filly sprung, and cleared the ditch, eral paces, for he anticipated mischief. The but the shock unseated her inexperienced Doctor had such a notorious prejudice against rider, who, thrown on her horse's neck, must a curb, that nobody at all acquainted with evidently, at the next stride, have come viohim ever thought of even showing him any lently to the ground. But the strong arm of other bridle than a snaffle. In a inoment he the corporal was, at that critical moment, was in the air, executing a great variety of passed round her waist, and restored her to feats, of a nature much more curious to a her seat. He had cleared the ditch almost at spectator than gratifying to riders in general; the same moment as herself; and, now, catchbut the dragoon was demi-corpsed" with ing the filly's rein, before she had recovered his steed, and sat him, though without stir-from her own astonishment at performing rups, as if on parade. such a feat, he checked her pace to a walk. 66 Presently the brute paused, with his forelegs out and his ears back; then, without warning, he rose in the air, on his hind-legs. For a moment he stood poised, perpendicular "Bravo!" roared Bagot; "the fellow's a Centaur. Tip-top riding, by Jove! Boy, open the gate, and let 'em back. One jump of that sort 's enough." LADY LEE'S WIDOW HOOD. Orelia was a little pale when they rode back, but kept her nerve unshaken. 66 -O, you "Dear Reley," said the trembling Rosa, you must n't ride that creature must n't! Get off, my dearest Reley." ," said Orelia, coldly. "Don't be silly,' Come sir" (to the corporal), "shall we begin our ride?" 66 - so! Game, by gad!" said the admiring Bagot. Take up "Game to the backbone. Yes, yes, go on - show her how, we can trust you with him. the martingale rein corporal. A pleasant ride to you." And Bagot flourished his white hat after them, as they all three went down the road, and then returned to the house, to have a little talk with Lady Lee. She was seated at the piano, playing and singing a song of her own writing and composition. Bagot had not much ear for music, nor was his soul tuned particularly to harmony; but he felt a sort of pleasure, at first, in hearing her magnificent voice pour forth the melody, and considerately waited near till it was finished; not very patiently, however, for he cleared his throat several times loudly, and shuffled with his feet impatiently on the hearthrug. Having finished her song, Lady Lee did not sing any more, but went on playing. This sort of unconscious disregard of him ("treating him, begad," he said, “as if he was nobody") had frequently annoyed Bagot, and the irritation he felt gave his thoughts a somewhat bilious hue. In the conversation which he presently He wanted to induce Lady Lee to receive 693 This may seem to many persons who are Such certainly was, in plain language, the "You look paler, Hester," said he, "than 66 That As "O, very pleasantly," said Lady Lee, in a half-absent way, as was natural to her of late, when not conversing on topics, or with "And when is this seclusion to end? people, that much interested her. thank goodness, is" (waking up), "just as usual." I said, you shut yourself up too much. To be sure, I'm not a woman month of this sort of life would play the very What d'ye no" (sotto voce); "but I can only say, á or a fête in the groundsdeuce with me. Suppose, now, you were to begin to see a little company. say to a bull some way of collecting your friends about you?" ΟΙ Lady Lee elevated her shoulders wearily, and put out her lip at the idea. "You really ought," said Bagot, to make an effort to break through these quiet habits. Ilang me, if you might n't as well be a fly, and stick to the ceiling, as live in this way. What's the use of your accomplishments, if nobody knows them? What 's the use of your 'Pon my soul, I really reading, if you bottle it all up? Besides, there are those two young friends of yours dying, I daresay, poor things, for a little society and amusement. don't think it hospitable to keep the unfortusion." nate girls here, and allow them no diver "I am much mistaken," said Lady Lee, "if more society would make them any happier here, or if the wish for it ever enters the time passes with us. I only wish I had their heads. You have no idea how pleasantly 1 |